Glove for cold weather applications

ABSTRACT

A glove assembly especially designed for use in low-temperature environments is disclosed. A characterizing feature of the invention resides in the finger sheaths incorporating areas of disparate insulation, namely a fingertip covering portion having an additional layer or layers of insulation in the form of a cot disposed within said shell. The areas between the cot and the root of the fingers incorporate a reduced number of layers of insulating material whereby constriction of blood flow to the fingertip areas is minimized and a high flexibility area is provided below the fingertip areas.

BACKGROUND AND FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention is directed to a glove assembly especially useful in Arctic or other cold environments. A characterizing feature of the glove assembly is its ability to maintain the fingertips in a warm condition as contrasted with gloves heretofore known. A further feature of the invention resides in the provision of a glove in which the finger sheaths are more flexible than in conventional cold-weather devices, thereby providing an additional degree of dexterity to the wearer.

PRIOR ART

[0002] It is conventional in the provision of gloves for use in cold environments to provide a multiplicity of layers including foam layers, moisture barrier layers, etc. Devices heretofore known effectively maintain the bulk of the hand in a sufficiently warm condition but fail to maintain the fingertips in a comfortable condition. Known glove constructions have attempted to provide protection for the fingertips by forming finger sheathes of multi-layer construction throughout.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention may be summarized as directed to an improved glove assembly which assures that the fingertips are maintained in a warm condition. The invention is further directed to a glove assembly wherein the finger sheaths are rendered more flexible, enabling the user to operate with a greater degree of dexterity.

[0004] A central concept of the invention resides in providing a glove having an outer liner or shell and interior insulation layers characterized in that the area of the fingertips is provided with an additional layer of insulation whereas the area of the sheaths closer to the palm, than the fingertips include reduced amounts of insulation. More particularly, I have discovered that the conventional glove's use of equal amounts of padding or insulation in the area extending between the palm and fingertips constricts the blood vessels extending from the base of the finger into the fingertip, resulting in reduced circulation in the fingertips and the, consequent, sensation of coldness in the fingertips. More specifically, by omitting excessive insulation in an area at the base of the fingers and extending toward the fingertips, approximately, by half of the length of the finger, constriction of the blood vessels in the base of the fingers is avoided and the fingertips maintain a sensation of warmth. Elimination of insulation in the area of the base of the fingers provides the additional benefit of enabling the user to operate in a more dexterous fashion since that area of the glove is more flexible due to the absence of insulation.

[0005] With the foregoing in mind, it is an object of the invention to provide a glove for use in frigid environments which maintains the fingertips in a warm condition. A further object of the invention is a provision of a glove of the type described wherein the finger sheaths are more flexible than conventional gloves of comparable resistance to the cold which, in addition, provides an extra amount of dexterity for the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING

[0006]FIG. 1 is a plan view of a glove in accordance with the invention.

[0007]FIG. 2 is a magnified section taken on the line 2-2. of FIG. 1.

[0008]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a finger cot used in the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Referring now to the drawings, in FIG. 1, there is shown a conventional appearing glove device 10 including a wrist and palm component 11 and finger sheaths 12. The dotted lines 13, as depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2, represent, approximately, the center of the length of the finger sheaths 12.

[0010] As best seen in FIG. 2, the glove includes an outer shell 14. In the area of the glove beneath the lines 13, there is depicted several layers of insulation including, by way of example and without limitation, a foam layer 15, a moisture barrier layer 16, and an inner liner 17, which illustratively may be made of Thinsulate® material. It will be understood that the layers such as 15, 16 and 17 are conventional and that multiple, additional layers in the area below the lines 13 may be included.

[0011] In the area above the lines 13, i.e. the area leading to the fingertips 18, there is inserted in each finger sheath, a cot 19 formed of insulating material. The cot, which is a thimble-like structure, is comprised of one or more insulating layers 20, 21. The cot may be integrally woven, but, normally, will comprise two halves 22, 23 stitched together along stitch lines 24, 25.

[0012] As seen in FIG. 2, the cot 19 is disposed between the outer shell 14 and the inner insulation layers 16, 17. The cot 19 is held in position within the areas of the finger sheaths above the median lines 13 as by stitching 26 extending between the insulating layers 16, 17 and the end 27 of the cot. The cots includes an apex at the stitched end portion 27 and a skirt comprised of the halves 22,23. Additional areas of stitching between the cot and elements of the glove assembly may be present, as required.

[0013] As will be apparent from the foregoing description, there is providing, in accordance with the invention, a glove assembly in which the areas of the fingertips to approximately half way down the finger sheaths are provided with an additional layer or layers of insulation via cots 19. Importantly, the areas of the finger sheaths below the median lines 13 have a reduced amount of insulation as compared to the sheath portions above lines 13, whereby the circulation of the wearer is not constricted as is the case with conventional gloves. By providing an area below the fingertips which includes a reduced amount of insulation, the finger sheaths below lines 13 possess an additional degree of flexibility. In accordance with the invention, I have surprisingly discovered that by reducing the amount of insulation in the areas of the finger sheaths below the median lines 13, a glove construction which maintains the fingertips in a warm condition is achieved.

[0014] As will be apparent in those skilled in the art and familiarized with the instant disclosure, numerous variations in details of construction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is to be broadly construed within the limits of the appended claims. It is further to be understood that the specific numbers and types of insulation in both the glove component below the fingertips and in the fingertip cot areas are illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation. It will be readily recognized that a multiplicity of additional layers may be incorporated in the device, the critical element being that the finger sheaths are comprised of two different quantities of internal insulation, namely, a lesser quantity up to the median of the sheath and a greater quantity in the area between the median and the fingertip. 

1. An enhanced dexterity glove assembly for low-temperature uses comprising a shell in the configuration of a conventional glove having a wrist-covering portion, palm covering portion, and finger sheaths extending from root portions at the upper extremity of said palm-covering portions and terminating at fingertip covering portions remote from said root portions, a liner comprised of insulating material conforming to the interior configuration of said shell, said glove assembly, characterized in a plurality of cot members formed of insulating material interposed between said liner and said shell in registry with said sheaths, said cot members including a closed apex portion and a skirt extending from said apex portions of said cots, said cots being disposed in registry with said fingertip covering portions, said skirts extending toward said root portions, said skirt portions terminating in spaced relation to said root portions.
 2. A glove assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said skirts extend about half the length of said finger sheaths.
 3. A glove assembly in accordance with claim 1 and including end stitching connecting respective said apices to said fingertip covering portions.
 4. A glove assembly in accordance with claim 3 and including side stitching connecting said skirts to portions of said sheaths.
 5. A glove assembly in accordance with claim 3 and including a moisture barrier interposed between said liner and said shell. 